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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX KURTI-I, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,331, dated February 23, 1892.

Application filed October '7, 1891 Serial No. 408,012. (No model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, MAX KURTH, of New York city, New York, have invented anImproved Musical Instrument, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a musical instrument termed a zither-violin, and which is played by a rubber bow upon metal strings, similar to a violin.

It consists in the various features of improvements more fully pointed out in the claims. v V

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the instrument; Fig. 2, aside elevation or edge view thereof; Fig. 3, a side View, partly in section, of the bow, and Figs. 4 to 7, perspective views of the four thimbles The letter a represents the body of the musical instrument, the belly, back, and sides of which are composed of struck-up sheet metal, preferably nickel or nickel alloy. I give to the body A the form shown in the drawings, in which it is composed of two substantially rectangular sections connected by a long straight neck A.

a a are the strings, made of metal and connected at one end to a tail-piece b of the -ordinary construction, while at the other end they are connected to the tuning -pins 0. These pins 0, however, do notprojectlaterally from the neck, as usual with violins; but they project upwardly from the same, as shown. Before reaching the tuning-pins c the strings a pass the fixed pins (1, that serve to properly distance the strings.

string is connected to the frog B in such a manner that the string may be stretched to any suitable extent. To this effect the end of string f is connected to a slide 9, engaged by a screw h. By revolving this screw the slide is moved up or down to stretch or relax the string.

The left hand of the player is provided with a number of thimbles i t 9? 2' adapted to fit the four fingers. These thimbles are pressed upon the strings a over the finger-board to shorten the strings in the ordinary way. Each thimble should be provided with an inner rubber lining Z, as shown.

The instrument is played similar to a violin, being held against the neck and manipulated by the bow. It will produce rich melodious music.

WVhat I claim is-- 1. The combination of a musical instrument composed of a metal body and metal strings with a bow having a rubber string f, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a musical instrument composed of a metal body and metal strings with thimbles having a rubber lining, substantially as specified.

, MAX KURTII.

Witnesses:

F. v. BRIESEN, A... J ONGHMANS. 

